Open Monument Day in Jena on 08.09.2024
The 31st Open Monument Day in Jena will take place on 08.09.2024. Over 30 objects throughout the city of Jena can be visited. They include monuments that have seen a lot and have a lot to tell, old favorites and youngsters, landmarks and almost hidden treasures and jubilees that unite everything. Numerous guided tours, presentations and exhibitions provide a deeper insight into the special features of the places.
This year's motto "Wahr-Zeichen" ("True Signs") focuses on the unique characteristics of monuments.
"In today's world, where the boundaries between real and artificial are becoming increasingly blurred, monuments are reliable witnesses to living history. Especially in comparison to AI-generated images, statements or objects, their original substance makes them authentic and reliable sources. We are therefore delighted about the many objects that are opening their doors again. A visit is definitely worthwhile," emphasizes Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche.
Some of the monuments that can be visited belong to the city's own municipal enterprise JenaKultur. These include the Villa Rosenthal, the Carmelite Monastery, the city wall ensemble with Johannistor and Powder Tower and the Volkshaus.
"In the various guided tours, exhibitions and offers, we emphasize the special features of the individual buildings. One of the Volkshaus, for example, is that it is the home of the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra. That's why the Open Monument Day is the perfect opportunity to open the Philharmonic's season with a free concert," reports JenaKultur site manager Friedrun Vollmer.
A look at the program
Castles and churches
The castles and churches in Jena are among the cultural monuments that have seen and told a lot, making them some of the oldest contemporary witnesses and special landmarks at the same time. On the Gleisberg, the Kunitz associations provide information on the history of Gleisberg Castle/Kunitzburg and also demonstrate traditional craftsmanship techniques. It is also not far from Kunitz to Laasan, where the local association opens the beautiful Rats-Brauhaus. The Protestant parish opens the Friedenskirche and St. Peter's in Lobeda as well as many of the wonderful village churches. In St. Mary's Church in Ziegenhain, which is celebrating its 600th anniversary this year, an exhibition of sculptures and drawings of St. Mary's Church by the Jena Music and Art School will open on Sunday. The exhibition will also feature gems from the church. The highly exciting Laurentius Church in Maua will be taking part in the Monument Day for the first time. City archaeologist Dr. Rupp invites visitors to search for clues at the town church of St. Michael.
Old and new landmarks in the cultural landscape
Jena's landmark is also the designed cultural landscape on the forest with its network of paths and viewpoints and towers. Three cultural monuments located in the forest will once again be taking part on Sunday: the forest observatory, the forest tower and the Bismarck Tower, which is in urgent need of renovation.
The highway bridge in Göschwitz (today on the BAB 4) was designed and built as a very special monument despite its official purpose elsewhere. It can also be visited again on Sunday.
Special buildings
The so-called Binderburg in Burgau is a special landmark that can bear witness to many things on its property. The landlord has once again put together such a colorful and interesting program that it is definitely worth a visit. This also applies to Villa Rosenthal, which was reopened 15 years ago after extensive renovation by jenawohnen GmbH. The villa, which is embedded in a large park-like garden, impresses with its extremely representative design, with each room stylistically inspired by an era. On Sunday, there will be a varied all-day program to mark the small anniversary. And something else is celebrating a small anniversary with open doors on Monument Day: the Glass House in Paradise. Friedhelm Schubring drew the designs for this extraordinary building 50 years ago. And after a long time, the Imaginata in the former transformer station is also back this year. The Obermühle Leutra mill, which was literally saved from ruin at the last minute, will also be open to visitors in the late afternoon.
Places steeped in history
Jena's history is inextricably linked to the university. On Sunday, a guided tour of the Collegium Jenense will take you on an exciting search for traces of the monastery and the early days of the university. The former Carmelite monastery on Engelplatz is a place no less steeped in history. After its remains were extensively renovated in 2017 in line with the preservation order, the area around the only authentic site of monastic life and the 16th century Reformation in Jena underwent a new transformation with the construction of the new library.
The opening of the city wall ensemble with Johannistor and Powder Tower from the 13th and 14th centuries has become a real tradition, giving an impression of the once fortified medieval city fortifications of Jena.
The Ernst Abbe Monument, which was erected in 1909 - 1911 in honor of the physicist, industrialist and social reformer Ernst Abbe, is of course also included.
Evidence of the turn from the 18th to the 19th century
The Drackendorf Park, Schiller's garden house and garden and the inspector's house in the Botanical Garden are evidence of the important period for Jena at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Event tips
This year's opening of the Volkshaus is also combined with the opening of the Philharmonic Orchestra's season and a free concert at 15:00. Before that, you can of course also visit the newly renovated event venue from 10:00 to 14:30 and get to know it better on guided tours.
There will be a somewhat unusual format on Sunday lunchtime: a workshop discussion will be held on the significance of the so-called "inner city redevelopment area" (Unterlauengasse/Saalstraße/Oberlauengasse).
In the Carmelite Monastery, from 13:00 to 16:00, a picture motif reminiscent of the Jena Luther edition can be printed under expert guidance - using a hand press and wooden printing block, just as was done 500 years ago. In addition, guided tours at 10:15, 11:15 and 16:15 offer an insight into the history of the monastery.
The background
The Open Monument Day has existed since 1993. It is coordinated by the German Foundation for Monument Protection. Guided tours and walks encourage people to set out to get to know our cultural heritage and the professions, trades, techniques and people involved in its preservation. This day thrives on encounters and conversations and provides enriching moments and new insights. The city of Jena has been taking part since 1993.